Page 20 of Vicious Little Snakes

Kai is striking. I noticed him the moment he set foot on campus sophomore year. Everyone did.

First of all, his mother is Oscar famous and on the cover of every fucking tabloid. Second, he’s gifted with the face of an angel and a mind straight out of hell. It’s the perfect pairing for his chiseled bone structure and body carved from the gods. But the most delicious attribute is the gorgeous hue of his skin. It’s a caramel spotlight in a sea of preppy whitewashed legacies.

He’s a breath of fresh air—and I knew we’d be best friends. Mainly because he was wearing the new Prada loafers, a smoky black eyeliner, and smelled like women’s Dior perfume. And yet, so comfortable in his manhood that it was captivating. I’d never met anyone like him. Kai was so quintessentially him, unabridged, and for the second time in my life, I found that I was jealous of someone.

“Oooh,” he rasps, looking over at some lacrosse players. “Did you invite Mark to your party? I was hoping he could be your present, from me, that I could share.”

I ignore his gaze, looking at my glossy red nails. “Pass. His dick is small—‘roids. Everyone knows that. Plus, lacrosse is so pedestrian.”

“It’s not the size of his stick that matters.”

“Says a boy with an oar.”

“Fair.”

Kai’s never been in any “closet,” so to speak. He was bisexually proud from day one. He’s also too built for any overly conservative homophobe—and there are many at Hillcrest—to fuck with.

Not that anyone would’ve dared, considering Grey and Liam took to him immediately. Of course, they did. Greatness is always recognized when mirrored.

Kai earned their friendship because he’s audacious—always the life of the party. They respect him because he rows like a beast. And their loyalty is cemented because he understands what it’s like to be someone others want to know—it’s all false friendships and double-crossers behind big, bright smiles.

Except nobody gets by Kai, which is why I never leave his side. The steep edge of that thought overlooks a deep black hole. One I’m unprepared to fall down right now, so I look up at him, ready to change the subject until he beats me to the punch.

“What’s got your frown lines doing overtime, gorgeous?”

I slap his hand. “Take it back. I don’t have frown lines.”

Kai laughs, “You do when Liam Brooks is around.”

My eyes roll involuntarily.

“We aren’t speaking about that. Ever. You promised.”

Some time ago, when I was high and too fucked up to care, I told Kai all about my obsession—how it began andalmost allthe gory fucking details in between. It was the truest test of our relationship.

Kai is my person, my best friend. My soulmate. He’s just not the love of my life. Then again, I’m not his.

“Okay. But you can’t avoid this conversa—”

My eyes snap to his, cutting him off. “Please don’t make me Laura you.”

“I dare you to try.”

I can’t help the smile that sneaks out as we stop at the fork in the hall because I never would.

“Now, bloody my mouth again, baby.”

He leans in, but I draw back, thwarting his attempt to ruin my lipstick.

“Don’t be cruel. How will I make it through the most boring fucking history class ever invented if I can’t daydream about you sucking my face?”

“You’ll survive”—I blow a kiss at him—“You can think about Mark’s tiny dick.”

One of his brows rises as I feel our arms slip away. He’s still grinning at me, walking backward, probably thinking of a snappy comeback, as I turn, walking directly into the one person I thought I’d successfully avoided.

“Where the hell did you come from?” I gasp, surprised by the closeness of our bodies as I take a step backward.

I attempt to look less flustered than I feel by giving him a stern look before smoothing my blazer to make sure I didn’t spill my coffee. Liam’s all broad shoulders and a devious grin, and damn, is that keeping me anxious.